Raising funds towards a memorial bench for Sam Lipman, an unstoppable force of nature.

As many are aware, we suddenly and unexpectedly lost our beautiful Sam a few weeks ago at the young age of 32. I always knew Sam was popular and loved by so many, and this has been represented by the sheer number of people who have reached out and attended to celebrate her life recently. The enormity of love, courage and utter strength shown by her wonderful family is nothing less than phenomenal. But from everything I know about Sam and have learnt about her since, I expected nothing less from my best friend.

Sam has an endless amount of personal, academic and organisational accomplishments and dedicated her life to making a difference to both animals and humans alike. Her biggest passion lie with the Orca and there was nothing she loved more than being in the water. She was present at every whale rescue she could physically get to across the country (and even when she couldn't be there because of other commitments, it was all she spoke about until the rescue was complete!) A highly valued member of The British Divers Marine Life Rescue for over a decade, a Thames Area Coordinator since 2018, and about to complete her Masters thesis in Cetecean welfare, there is nothing Sam did not give but her whole heart to what she loved. She is also the founder of Orca Aware - www.orcaaware.org - a foundation she created to raise awareness and document research into Orca whales around the world.

On top of that, Sam was an amazing Paramedic. Yes, she saved people too! Mentoring me as her 'adopted student' from the very first week I ever set foot on an ambulance as a student paramedic, we have spent 2.5 years building a forever friendship, of which she held me up and many others I'm sure, through some difficult times. A much loved colleague of London Ambulance Service EOC previously and in recent years on the frontline as part of the Ashford Make Ready team in Kent. She also embarked upon a 9 month secondment and became part of the local SECAmb Welfare team, following on from her 3rd year dissertation on staff well-being being published in the Journal of Paramedic Practice. She had recently completed her training with the Coastguard in order to volunteer there too. This is just a short list of the many things in which she participated in and put her passionate nature to such memorable use.

Therefore, with Sam's family's permission and in support of them, I would like to raise some funds towards a memorial bench in Sam's honour. A place to visit, remember and honour the love everyone has for her, the incredible work she is has been a part of and the legacy she leaves behind. Thanks to Sam and her many years of hard work and dedication, money has already been successfully raised towards new life saving equipment for the River Thames. So lets give her a special place to sit with us. Please share this page and/or donate. Whichever way, every little helps. All funds will be given directly to Sam's family, and are based on costs from research of memorial benches placed by the coast including plaque inscription and VAT, with a decision on the appropriate location at the family's discretion when they are ready.

Thank you xx